Body-protector.



, L. STEWART BODY PROTECTOR. APPLICATION map ocr. 1. I915 Patented Sept.11, '1917 WALTER L. s'rnwnnr, or nus MOINES, IUWA.

BODY-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgmggnfi gd n w 111 191'? Applicationfiled October 1, 1915. Serial No. 53,624.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVALTER L. swa m, acitizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county ofPolk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Body-Protectors; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of. the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to body protectors and is more particularlydesigned to be worn by foot-ball players and athletes.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a-bodyprotector consisting of sections suitably connected together, wherebythe body of the wearer is amply protected against injury.

Another object of this invention is to provide a body protector of twosections formed of felt or the like, provided with a plurality of thickpads upon the sections, formed of papier-mach, wood fiber, or otherhardsubstance, which pads are covered by. heavy canvas, and aresopositioned upon the sections as to amply protect the ribs and hips ofthe wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a body protector formedof sections resiliently connected together to permit the free movementof the body of the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a body protector which islight and simple in construction, cool and durable, and which can bemore readily attached to or detached from the body of a person than theform of jackets now in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention'will be hereinafter moreclearly set forth in the specification, defined in the claim, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a view showing the invention as applied to a human figure.

Fig. 2 is a detail View of the invention showing the same in extendedposition.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, on line 3-8 of Fig. 2, throughone of the sec tions of the protector showing. the detail a constructionof the pads of the sections.

Referring to the drawings, the body protector preferably consists of twooppositely disposed sections of similar construction, however, it is tobe understood that this invention is not to be limited to two sec tions,as a greater number of sections may preferably made of felt of suitableweight and thickness and is formed so as to provide the wider upperportion 1 for embracing the body of the wearer, and the narrower portion.Zfor embracing the hips oi the wearer. The upper edge of the upperportion 1 ofthe sections is cut away or scalloped to provide the recess3 for the reception of the arm pits of the wearer.

Suitably secured upon the portions 1 of the sections are the larger pads4, and also suitably secured upon the portions 2 of the sections are thesmaller pads 55. These pads 4 and 5 are formed of papier-mach, woodfiber, or other hard substance, as shown at 6 in Fig. 3, the substanceforming these pads is covered by the heavy canvas at also shown in Fig.8, the canvas 41: being suitably stitched or otherwise secured to thefelt c011- stituting the body of the sections.

The edges of the sections, which lie at the front of the wearer, areresiliently connected together by the straps 8 formed of elastic band ormaterial, preferably two in number as shown. Upon the other edge of oneof the sections is suitably securedthe strap 9, having secured in itsfree end the buckle 10, or other suitable securing means, and upon thecorresponding edge of the other section is suitably secured the strap 11adapted to be secured in the buckle 10 of the strap 9 for securing theprotector around the body of the wearer, the straps 9 and 11 beingpreferably secured at the back of the wearer.

In the construction shown in this invention I am enabled to provide abody protector primarily for the use of foot-ball players, constructedin such a manner that the ribs and hip bones of the player, which areusually the most exposed parts, are amply protected against injury, andat the same time the protector is cool, light, and durable, and onewhich can be more easily attached to or detached from the body of thewearer than the jackets now commonly used. Again, by connecting two ofthe ad jacent edges of the sections together through the medium of theelastic straps or hands, the protector not only snugly fits the body ofthe wearer, but at the same time, due to its resiliency, admits of thefree movement of the body, as well as adjusting itself to the expansionand contraction of the body during respiration, this latter featurebeing an important factor in this invention as the respiration of thewearer is not in the least interfered with as in other structures ofthis class.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Lettors-Patent, is

A body protector, comprising oppositely disposed spaced sections adaptedto be positioned at the sides of the wearer, each of said sectionscomprising an upper member and an mtegral lower member, said uppermember being of greater dimensions than said lower member, exterior padsformedwithconcaved cut-out portions to provide recesses .i'or thereceptlon oi the arm pits or the wearer, a pair of spaced elasticmembers connecting the forward edges of said upper members forrespectively engaging the chest trally between said" elastic members forI equalizing the strains upon said elastic members-and for attachablysecuring the protector at the back ofthe wearer for maintaining thesections in their relative positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses! WALTER L. STEl/VART.

Vitnesses J. BROWN, ELMER Soo'rT.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington; D. G.

